Last year and this, the smallest increment above a prior number was broadcast out as the greatest thing ever (US wage growth in particular), irrefutable proof of globally synchronized growth. Now that that's over with, largely, there will be a tendency toward the other extreme.

The latest Chinese economic statistics are for several of them the lowest in some time. Starting with real GDP, at just 6.5% in Q3 2018 it's the slowest pace since the first quarter of 2009. That's not good especially for a statistic of such dubious practices often specifically crafted to be the best it can be.

What that suggests is not immediate catastrophe, offering instead more complete confirmation that this major economy is slowing. Again. This is the real story in China and therefore for everywhere else.